IAG to win EU approval to buy bmi airline – source (Reuters)

(Reuters) – British Airways owner IAG is set to win EU regulatory approval to acquire German group Lufthansa’s British unit bmi after offering to give up additional airport slots, a person familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

IAG had initially proposed to cede 10 slots for domestic and non-domestic routes. But it increased the number to 14 after rivals and other parties told the European Commission the concessions were not sufficient. It was not clear at which airports the 14 slots are located.

Antoine Colombani, a spokesman for the competition unit at the Commission, declined to comment on the case. Both IAG and Lufthansa also declined to comment.

The European Union executive was due to decide by Friday on the deal, which is worth 172.5 million pounds ($273 million)……